Friday - February 14, 2020
TODAY'S READINGS
February 14 2020
Memorial of Saints Cyril, monk, and Methodius, bishop
Lectionary: 333
Reading 11 KGS 11:29-32; 12:19
Jeroboam left Jerusalem,
and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road.
The two were alone in the area,
and the prophet was wearing a new cloak.
Ahijah took off his new cloak,
tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam:
and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road.
The two were alone in the area,
and the prophet was wearing a new cloak.
Ahijah took off his new cloak,
tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam:
“Take ten pieces for yourself;
the LORD, the God of Israel, says:
‘I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon’s grasp
and will give you ten of the tribes.
One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant,
and of Jerusalem,
the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.’”
the LORD, the God of Israel, says:
‘I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon’s grasp
and will give you ten of the tribes.
One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant,
and of Jerusalem,
the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.’”
Israel went into rebellion against David’s house to this day.
Responsorial Psalm81:10-11AB, 12-13, 14-15
R. (11a and 9a) I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.”
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“My people heard not my voice,
and Israel obeyed me not;
So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts;
they walked according to their own counsels.”
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
Quickly would I humble their enemies;
against their foes I would turn my hand.”
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.”
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“My people heard not my voice,
and Israel obeyed me not;
So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts;
they walked according to their own counsels.”
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
Quickly would I humble their enemies;
against their foes I would turn my hand.”
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
AlleluiaACTS 16:14B
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 7:31-37
Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”)
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
“He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”)
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
“He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
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Hearing God's Voice
In today's Gospel reading, the deaf man started listening even before he could hear! He listened to God's voice inviting him to find new growth and healing. In the same way, God speaks to us in our consciences before we hear it in our minds.
We're living in a noisy world, so it takes effort to hear what the Lord is saying. He's speaking to us all the time. Every moment of every day. He's actually quite chatty!
When was the last time you heard him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" I'm sure he has -- today even. (Hey, sometimes just getting out of bed gains us a "well done!" from our Lord.)
When was the last time you heard him say, "I made this day for you! Isn't it wonderful? Sure we're sharing in some trials today, but listen to the birds singing! It's a song I taught them to sing for you!"
Sometimes, we're deaf because we don't believe he's saying what he's saying. Sometimes, we're deaf because we're too stubborn to accept his message. He then tries to reach us through other methods, including the people around us. Listen! He might use the least likely person; God's got a sense of humor like that -- or maybe it's a sense of fairness.
God has guidance that he wants to give you today, but you'll need to work at keeping your ears open all day. God is also trying to correct you about something, warning you about a sin you're vulnerable to today. And he's giving you words of encouragement, hope, comfort, and rejoicing. Will you be able to hear all of this? Are you willing to hear all of it?
His voice is waiting in the scriptures, in Christian music, in that spiritual book you've got sitting on your table, in your children or your spouse or the friend you "accidentally" bump into. His ways of communicating are as infinite and as creative as he is.
Give him your deafness each morning, and if you truly want to hear, you'll get more guidance, more comfort, more affirmation, and more "All right! Way to go, my child! Well done, good and faithful servant! Hooray for you! I love you!"
You might hear the angels singing to God about what he has done in your life. They have a chorus going right now. Shhhh .... listen!
Today's Prayer
Lord, I beg You for this grace: May my heart be always ready to listen and obey You knowing You only desire what is best for me. Amen.
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God Bless You.....
The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day
through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”
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